Method for making a breakwater

ABSTRACT

A method for making a breakwater includes the steps of making cubic blocks each with interlocking grooves and ribs respectively formed on opposite corners of the cubic block; progressively interlocking the cubic blocks from shallow water to deep water by sliding the ribs in the corresponding grooves; flushing the top faces of the interlocked cubic blocks; and securing the engaged cubic blocks. The cubic blocks are placed in position from the land or the previously assembled breakwater, such that no barge is required and thus no water or weather condition needs to be taken into account

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for making abreakwater, and more particularly to a breakwater making method havingthe steps of making cubic blocks each with interlocking cutouts formedon the corners of one side of the block and ribs formed on the cornersof the opposite side of the cubic block, progressively interlocking theribs on one block with the cutouts on another block from shallow waterto deep water, flushing the top faces of the interlocked cubic blocksand securing the interlocked cubic blocks. The user is able toprogressively construct a breakwater from the shore to deep waterwithout the assistance of a barge, especially when a road or a track isprogressively formed on the assembled cubic blocks.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Normally, a barge is necessary for workers to place blocks ofconcrete, concrete forms, boulders, etc. when building a breakwater.Normally, a large crane is provided on the barge so workers can pick upthe blocks, forms, etc. one by one and place the blocks, forms, etc. inposition. Gradually, after the blocks are stacked one on another, asurface made by the blocks is created flush with the ground. Thereafter,more cubic blocks can be moved from the shore for further construction.Furthermore, divers will level the bottom by placing different sizes ofstones, which increases the overall cost.

[0005] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends toprovide a method to mitigate and obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The main objective of the invention is to provide an improvedmethod to build a breakwater. The method comprises the steps of makingcubic blocks each with interlocking grooves and ribs respectively formedon opposite side faces of the cubic block, progressively interlockingthe cubic blocks from shallow water to deep water with each cubic blockinterlocked with adjacent blocks by sliding the dovetail ribs in thecorresponding dovetail grooves, flushing the top faces of theinterlocked cubic blocks and securing the interlocked cubic blocks.

[0007] With such a method, a road or tracks can be formed or mounted onthe top face of the stacked and interlocked blocks of concrete so thattrucks or a train can move more blocks to the edge of the stacked andinterlocked blocks for further construction.

[0008] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram of the method for making a breakwaterin accordance with the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled cubic blocks inaccordance with the invention;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side plan view of the assembled cubicblocks by taking the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

[0012]FIG. 4 is an operational side plan view of the movement of thecubic blocks from the shore to installation at the seaward end thebreakwater in accordance with the present invention; and

[0013]FIG. 5 is a side plan view of an application of the method used asa retaining wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the method for making abreakwater has the steps of:

[0015] (1). making cubic blocks with interlocking grooves and ribsrespectively formed on opposite side faces of each cubic block;

[0016] There is a 4 m increase in depth for every 100 m away from theshore line. That is, the average slope of the sea bottom near the shoreis about 4%. To cope with the slope of the sea bottom, each cubic block(10) is made 16 m in length, 4 m in width and 3 m in height. Each cubicblock (10) has compartments (12), a pair of dovetail cutouts (13) and apair of dovetail extensions (14) Baffles (11) in conjunction with thesidewalls and end walls form the compartments (12) inside the cubicblock (10). The dovetail cutouts (13) are defined in opposite outsidecorners on the same side of the cubic block (10). The dovetailextensions (14) are formed on opposite outside corners on the side ofthe cubic block (10) opposite to the side with the dovetail cutouts(13). Furthermore, the cubic block (10) has a vertical dovetail key (17)formed on a side face of the cubic block (10) and a dovetailed keyway(16) formed on the opposite side face with respect to the dovetailkeyway (17).

[0017] When the cubic blocks (10) are assembled to make the breakwateraccording to the method in accordance with the present invention, afirst line of cubic blocks (10) are placed on a bottom of the water as abase with the dovetail extensions of one cubic block (10) engaged withthe dovetail cutouts (13) the adjacent cubic block (10).

[0018] (2). progressively interlocking dovetail extensions and cutoutsof the cubic blocks from shallow water to deep water by sliding theextensions into the corresponding cutouts;

[0019] The cubic blocks (10) are placed on the bottom of the water oneby one. During the placement of the cubic blocks (10), workers can movethe cubic blocks (10) from the shore to the water. That is, from shorealong the assembled portion of the breakwater directly to deep water atthe end of the assembled portion of the breakwater, such that no terrainbarrier or water condition needs to be taken into account, because themethod in accordance with the present invention is implemented on landand the assembled portion of the breakwater.

[0020] (3). flushing the top faces of the interlocked cubic blocks;

[0021] Because each cubic block (10) has compartments (12) and the samedimension, when the cubic block (10) is placed on the bottom of thewater, a plan surface can be achieved by the assembly of the cubicblocks (10). The engagement of cubic blocks (10) further includes thecapability of interlocking corresponding dovetail keys (17) and dovetailkeyways (16) of adjacent blocks (10) to make the breakwater wider. Thatis, when the dovetail key (17) of one cubic block (10) rests in thedovetail keyway (16) of another cubic block (10), the overall length ofthe assembled cubic blocks (10) is extended.

[0022] (4). securing the engaged cubic blocks.

[0023] After the cubic blocks (10) are assembled in the foregoingmanner, a steel bar (15) is used to secure the engagement betweenadjacent cubic blocks (10), as shown in FIG. 3.

[0024] With reference to FIG. 4, the cubic blocks (10) are moved to theshore by a mobile crane (21) moved on a track (20). That is, the crane(21) on the shore arranges the first line of cubic blocks (10), thesecond line of cubic blocks (10) etc. Then, a road or track (20) can beformed on the stacked and assembled cubic blocks (10). In this manner,the crane (21) can keep on working on the breakwater without having toaccommodate interference from the weather and terrain, which greatlyreduces the cost and time when compared with the conventional method.

[0025] With reference to FIG. 5, the method in accordance with thepresent invention can also be implemented to build a retaining wall on ahill (30) to prevent landslides or to build a new road along theinclined surface after a severe landslide, which also saves a lot oftime and money.

[0026] When implementing the method in accordance with the invention,the weather and the water condition can be overlooked, such that workerscan still work despite bad weather conditions. Therefore, a delay in thework schedule or a large sum of meaningless wages from the suspension ofwork due to bad water condition can be avoided.

[0027] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for making a breakwater comprising:making cubic blocks each with a pair of dovetail cutouts formed onopposite outside corners of one side of the cubic block and a pair ofdovetail extensions formed on opposite outside corners of opposite sideof the cubic block; progressively interlocking the dovetail extensionson one cubic block with the dovetail cutouts on an adjacent cubic blockfrom shallow water to deep water; flushing a top face of the interlockedcubic blocks; and securing the interlocked cubic blocks.
 2. The methodas claimed in claim 1 further comprising a step of forming a dovetailkey and a dovetail keyway on opposite side faces of a cubic block sothat one cubic block is able to be engaged with one another by theengagement between the dovetail key and the dovetail keyway.
 3. Themethod as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a step of forming atrack on the leveled surface of the interlocked cubic blocks.
 4. Themethod as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a step of forming atrack on the level surface of the interlocked cubic blocks.
 5. A cubicblock as claimed in the method of claim 1 comprising: compartmentsdivided by baffles; a cutout defined in a corner of the cubic block; andan extension oppositely formed with respect to the cutout.
 6. The cubicblock as claimed in claim 5, wherein a dovetail key and a dovetailkeyway are defined in opposite side faces of each cubic block, therebyallowing one cubic block to interlock with another cubic block by theengagement between the dovetail cutout and the dovetail extension andwith yet another block on the end by the dovetail key and the dovetailkeyway.